Mining-machine



M. P. HOLMES.

MINING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23,1918. RENEWED MAR. 30. 1921.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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v I I M. P. HOLMES.

MINING MACHINE. APPLICAI|0N FILED .IAY 23,1918. RENEWED MAR. 30. 1921.

1,395,996. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- iiiorrisl? aZ IQQS- atqy.

UNITED. STATES-- PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS P. HOLMES, OF CLAREMONT, NEIV HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVANMACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING-MACHINE,

Application filed May 23, 1918, Serial No. 236,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS P. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Claremont, inthe county of Sullivan and State of NewHampshire, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements inMining-Machines, of Which the following face in such a manner as, forinstance, to

enable the same to pass directly from its sumping cut to its transversecutting position by means of a double reeve connection extending fromthe rear end of the-machine around a guide at the rib and back to therear end of-fthe machine.

My invention'has for its object to' provide an improved feed controlling'mechanism for such a machine, which is effective toenable the machineto be controlled in the desired manner. A further object of my inventionis to provide improved and simplified feed controlling means which,while not limited thereto, is adapted to use in connection with astandard machine of the type utilizing a chain as a feeding member.Other objects and advantages of my improved construe tion will, however,hereinafter'more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposesof illustrationone embodiment which my inventionmay assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mining machine equipped with myimprovement;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the illustrative clamping means.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the machine after the completionof its sumping cut and ready to'begin its transverse cut.

Fig. 4c is a similar diagrammatic view showing the machine and itsconnections when the machine is makingits transverse cut.

Fig; 5 is a similar diagrammatic View showing the machine a and itsconnections afterthe completionof-its transversecut.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921. Renewed March 30, 1921. Serial No. 457,028.

and when the same is drawn from the face.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown my invention as appliedto use in connection with a standard form of short wall mining machineincluding a frame 1 having a forwardly projecting cutter bar 2 and acutter chain 3 movable about the ready to be withbar and driven throughsuitable driving.

mechanism from a motor 4 carried on the frame. As usual in suchconstructions, it I\g ill be observed that a feed driving memer chine isalso operatively connected to the motor. 4 through mechanism, not shown,and that flexible feeding connections, herein shown -in the form of aflexible feeding chain 6d1'sposed as usual around cooperating idlersprockets 7 and 8, are provided to feed the machine during its cuttingoperations.- As the specific construction ofgthe machine. however, doesnot enter into the present invention, it is believed that a moredetailed description of the same is accordingly unnecessary.

In my improved construction it will be observed that while one end ofthe flexible feeding member or chain 6 is connected in the usual mannerto a jack 9 located at the left hand rib, the end of the same extendingto the right hand rib is extended around a guide sprocket or sheave 10,preferably disposed in a horizontal plane and mounted on a suitablefixed support 11, herein shown to be fixed to the rib at the pointusually occupied by the jack, although it may obviously be held in fixedposition by any other well known means. As shown, this member 10 is alsoprovided with ratchet teeth 12 around its periphery and a 00613- eratingpawl 13 pivoted at 14 on the member 11 and normallydepressed by a spring15. Around this member, as shown, the end of the chain 6 is carried andthen directed back toward the machine frame to which it is adjustablyconnected through a suitable clamping mechanism hereinafter described,its extremity being preferably removably attached,',as,by a hook 16, toanother flexible member forming a continuation of the feed chai-m-hereinfihQwn-inthe form of a cable 5 located at the rear end of the ma- 17,which extends between suitable gripping surfaces 18 formed oncooperating gripping members 19 and 20 fixed to the frame 1 at a pointadjacent its rear end, as shown. Obviously, these members 19 and 20 maybe brought into clamping relation by any de sired means, but it will benoted that herein I have shown the same controlled by means of asuitable hand lever 21 operatively connected to a cam member 22, whichin turn cooperates with a cooperating cam member 23 carried on a pin 24.i

In considering the operation of my improved construction, let us referto Figs. 3, 4, and 5. In Fig. 3 it will be noted that after the machinehas completed its sumping cut shown therein, the cable 17 is drawnthrough the clamping members 19 and 20 until the end of the chain isrelatively close to the machine. Then the clamp is set. As a result,when the driving member 5 is started, the rear end of the machine movesaway from the rib at approximately a third the speed of movement of thefront end of the bar, as the latter swings through its arc toward itsnormal transverse cutting position. Obviously when the machine hasreached this position it will then only be necessary to release theclamping members 19 and 20 in order to eliminate the retarding actionof'the rear end of the machine, through the insertion of sufficientslack in the reeve of the feeding membe'rtextending between the sheaveand the clamping means. It: will also be evident that, due to theprovision of the pawl 13, while the latter will enable the chain to bedrawn therethrough as may be necessary during the angling operation,this pawl w1ll, as soon as the clamp is released, then actively engagethe chain in such a manner as to cooperate therewith in forming a fixedabutment. In other words, it will be observed that while the pawl isinoperative during the initial angling movement of the machine, itbecomes automatically operative as soon as the clamp is released, sothat the machine may operate during its transverse out in the samemanner as any standard machine of the type utilizing a continuousflexible feeding member. In the use of my improved construction, it willalso be observed that at any time thereafter or after the machine hascompleted its transverse cut, as shown in Fig. 5, itis only necessaryfor the clamping means 19. 20 to be again adjusted into clampingposition in order to enable the machine to be angled around anobstruction or withdrawn from the cut and backed over to the right handrib in the desired manner.

As a result ofmy improvement it will be .observed that a machine ofstandard con structionfmay be adapted to the desired refinements ofcontrol indicated above without any material addition thereto, the onlymechanism necessary to be applied to the machine being the clampingmeans 19, 20 and the controlling means therefor, which may, andpreferably do, form a unit adapted to be attached to the rear end of thema chine. So far as concerns the cooperating means at the right handrib, it will also be; observed'that here it is only necessary to providean exceedingly simple mechanism, as distinguished from the take-upmechanism which has -heretoforebeen necessary. These and otheradvantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearlyapparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis form is shown for illustrative purposes only and that the inventionmaybe modified and embodied in various other forms without departingfrom its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a'mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, feeding mechanism therefor including a flexible feedingmember disposed in front and rear thereof, a fixed guiding member aroundwhich the rear end of said feeding member is directedback toward saidframe, and an adjustable clamp on the'rear end of said frame controllingthe movement of said feeding member.

2. In mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projecting therefrom,feeding mechanism therefor including a feed chain 1 said frame,and-means including an adjustable clamp on the rear end of said framecontrolling the movement of said feed chain.

3. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding means thereforincluding a member having aportion extending rearward and back toward the rear end of said frame,means on-said frame for varying the length of said portion, guidingmeans around which said portion extends, and automatically actingcontrolling means controlling the move ment of said portion relative tosaid guid lng means.

1. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding means therefor including a member having aportion extending rearward and back toward the rear end of said frame.means on said frame for varying the length of said portion, guidingmeans around which said portion extends, and automatically actingcontrolling means for interrupting the movement of said portion relativeto said guiding means.

5. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding mechanism thereon including a member havinga portion extending rearward and back toward the rear end of said frame,means on the frame for varying the length of said portion, guiding meansaround which said portion extends, and automatically acting controllingmeans controlled by the movement of said portion relative to saidguiding means.

6. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding means therefor including a member having aportion extending rearward and back toward the rear .end of said frame,means on said frame for varying the length of said portion, guidingmeans around which said portion extends, and automatically actingcontrolling mechanism for interrupting movement in one direction of saidportion relative to said guiding means.

7. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, feeding mechanism therefor including a feed chain having aportion extending rearward and back toward the rear end of said frame,means onsaid frame for varying the length of said portion, guiding meansaround which said portion extends, and automatically acting ratchetmechanism controlling the movement of said portion relative to saidguiding means.

8. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding means therefor including a member having aportion extending rearward and back toward the rear end of said frame,guiding means around which said portion extends, a flexible connectionforming a continuation of said member and between said portion and therear end of said frame, and clamping means carried on the rear end ofsaid frame and relative to which said flexible connection is slidable atwill.

9. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding means therefor including a feed chain havinga portion extending rearward and back toward the rear end of said frame,guiding means around which said portion extends, a flexible connectionbetween said feed chain and the rear end of said frame removablyconnected to said chain, and clamping means on the rear end of saidframe relative to which said flexible connec-' tion is slidable.

10. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding means therefor including a member having aportion extending rearward and back toward the rear end of said frame,

fixed rearwardly located guiding means around which said portionextends, automatically cting mechanism controlled by movement of saidmember for interrupting movement thereof in one direction, andcooperating controlling means on the rear end of-said frame.

11. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding means therefor including a feed chain havinga portion extending rearward and back toward the rear end of said frame,a flexible connection between said feed chain and the rear end of saidframe removably connected to said chain, clamping means on the rear endof said frame relative to which said flexible connection is slidable,guiding means around which said portion extends, and automaticallyacting ratchet mechanism controlling the movement of said portionrelative to said guiding means,

12. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, feeding mechanism therefor including a flexible feedingmember disposed in front and rear thereof, a fixed guiding member aroundwhich the rear end of said feeding member is directed back toward saidframe, and

means on said frame operative to adjustably control the free length ofsaid backwardly directed portion, said means being constructed andarranged to permit said backwardly directed portion to extend instraight line thereform to said fixed guiding member.

13. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, feeding mechanism therefor including a flexible feedingmember disposed in front and rear thereof, a fixed guiding member aroundwhich the rear end of said feeding member is directed back toward theframe, and means on the rear end of said frame and manually controllableto adjustably control the free length of said backwardly directedportion, said means being constructed and arranged to permit saidbackwardly directed portion to extend in a straight line therefrom tosaid fixed guiding member.

14:. In a mining machine, a frame having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, flexible feeding means therefor including a member having aportion disposed in front thereof and a portion disposed in the rearthereof. said last mentioned portion being carried back toward the rearend of said frame, means on the frame for varying the length of saidlast mentioned portion, fixed guiding means around which said portionextends, and means operative to automatically limit the rate of movementof the rear end of the machine to a rate not in excess of that of theforward end thereof.

15, In a mining machine, aframe having a cutter bar projectingtherefrom, feed- 7 ing mechanism therefor including a flexible feedingmember disposed in front and rear thereof, a fixed guiding member, theportion in rear of said frame passing around said fixed guiding memberand extending back toward the rear endof said frame, and a plurality ofmeans controlling the rate of movement of the rear end of said machineincluding manually adjustable means and automatic means for limiting therate of 10 movement to a predetermined maximum. In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature.

MORRIS P. HOLMES. Y

